Never Let Go

Chapter 11- Anything For You

~*Ashley's Point View*~

"Hello?" Jake asked, picking up the phone in the kitchen.

"It's for you." Jake said, handing me the phone.

"Hello?" I asked into the receiver.

"Hello, Mr. Angel? This is Dr. Richardson. I'm calling in reference to the paternity test you took last week."

"Ok."

"It turns out that you're not the father. The DNA just doesn't match up."

"Thank you Dr. Richardson."

"Your welcome, have a nice day."

"You too." I hung up the phone, a huge cheesy grin plastered to my face.

"Who was that? What'd he want?" Jake asked as I turned around.

"That was Dr. Richardson. Turns out, I'm not Justin's father."

"That's a good thing right?"

"Hell yeah. Maybe now things can finally work out for me and Manda."

"Are you gonna tell her?"

"Yeah. I'm actually gonna go tell Shelli first. I just want to completely detach myself from her."

"Hopefully she'll actually stay away this time."

"I hope so. I don't think that I can take anymore drama from her than I already have."

"I know what you mean." I nodded and then took my keys out of my pocket.

"I'm gonna go. I'll be back later all right?"

"Sure." Jake said, not entirely paying attention. I chuckled to myself and then walked out the front door.

I got in my car and then sped off to the hotel Shelli was staying in.

About fifteen minutes later I arrived at the Holiday Inn. I got out of my car and walked in the direction of the front office. I knew the room number to the room that Shelli was staying in, but I had absolutely no idea where it was.

"Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me where room 239 is?" I asked the flustered looking woman standing behind the front desk.

"What? Oh, sure. It's on the second floor in the second building to the left of this office."

I thanked her and then walked out of the office. I walked in the direction she told me to and shortly after found myself standing in front of room number 239.

I took a deep breath and then raised my hand to knock on the door. Shelli opened the door a few moments later.

"Ashley? I wasn't expecting to see you here. Come in." I walked in and stood facing the bed that she had just sat down on.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she rubbed Justin's back. He was sleeping on his stomach next to Shelli.

"Dr. Richardson called today about the paternity test."

"What'd he say?" She asked, a quiver evident in her voice. A telltale sign she already knew the answer to her question.

"I'm not Justin's father."

"God, why couldn't you be? This is so unfair. That lucky bitch gets everything."

"Shelli wha-"

"First she stole you away from me and you two didn't even get together until like two months after that. Then when I finally tear you two apart, she turns up pregnant. You actually believe her when she tells you that you're the father. I mean how the hell were you so sure that I had lied and she told the truth huh? How do you know that she isn't lying huh?"

"Shelli, don't do this. Don't make this harder on yourself than it has to be. I've known Amanda my entire life and never once, ever, has she lied to me. You on the other hand have lied to me in the past. I also knew that you were trying to keep Manda and apart. What exactly did you expect me to do when you announced that I had a son. Welcome you with open arms? Shelli I'm sorry, but I just don't have feelings for you anymore. I haven't for a long time. I'm sorry that I don't share your feelings Shelli, but I don't. I'm in love with Amanda. I want to get married to her and have a family. Please stop trying to interfere with that. If you love me as much as you say you really do, then please just let me go and let me be happy with the woman that I love. Please?" I begged, kneeling infront of her. She had tears streaming down her face but nodded none the less.

"If I promise to stay out of your life forever and let you be happy, then will you give me a good-bye kiss?" She asked timidly, through her tears.

I had never seen Shelli look so vulnerable before. I almost felt sorry for. I almost wished that I had feelings for her. Almost being the operative word here.

"Do you really promise to stay out of our lives? To leave us alone and let us be happy?" Head faced towards the ground she nodded sullenly.

I placed my finger under her chin and lifted it so that I was looking directly into her eyes. I slowly brought my lips up to hers and kissed her softly one last time.

A moment later I pulled away and stood up. I took her hand in mine and pulled her off the bed as well. I pulled her close to me and hugged her tightly. I would never forget Shelli. I would never forget the way she helped me through my first break up with Amanda back in high school. I would never forget all of the good times we had in the past.

I let her go and then I walked out of her life. Closing the door behind me, I heard her cry in anguish as she began to sob.

I sighed, but then perked up a bit at the thought of finally being able to love Amanda without anymore interference from Shelli.

The only thing I had to do now was figure out a way to get her back.

~*Amanda's Point Of View*~

"Hello?" I asked, picking up the insistent phone.

"Uh, turn on your radio. Turn it to 93.3." Jake answered through the phone.

"What?" I asked as I turned on my radio and turned it to the station Jacob had told me to.

"I don't know. Ashley called a minute ago and told me to call you and have you turn your radio to 93.3.

"Uh, ok?" I questioned more so than stated. I was confused out of my mind.

We sat in silence on the phone neither of us sure if we should hang up.

The radio was playing annoying commercials and I personally didn't see the point in me listening to this.

"Why'd he want me to listen to commercials?" I asked.

"I have no clue, just keep listening. I'm sure he has a reason for wanting you to listen to 93.3. I'm listening too by the way."

"Uh, thanks for sharing." He laughed and then the phone went silent as his laughter died off as we both returned to listening for the reason Ash demanded that I listen to 93.3.

I sighed and looked out the window. It was raining really hard. I was glad to be inside right now.

A minute or so later the radio announcer came back on.

"Hello, I'm Kirk Benning and you're listening to 93.3 powerhouse. It's the top of the hour, which means its dedication time. Hello? You're on the air." The announcer said.

"Uh, yeah? I was wondering if you could play a song for me?"

"What song?"

"I know that everyone pretty much detests this song and that it hasn't been played on the radio in about a million years, but could you play Mmmbop?"

"I could, but why the hell would you want me to?"

"It's my best friend's favorite song. I love her to death and lately I've been a jerk."

"Do you have a dedication to go along with that ear splitting song?"

"Uh, yeah. Amanda, I just want you to know that I love you and no matter what else happens, if nothing else, then you'll always have me as a friend."

"Well, folks, here it is, the bubble gum pop hit, Mmmbop."

The announcer faded away as the opening chords to Mmmbop started. I felt silent tears dripping down my cheeks and a smile playing on my lips.

That had been our song. It came out during our sophomore year. I remember driving home from school one day and suddenly hearing Ashley's squeaky, puberty stricken voice on the radio dedicating this bubble gum hit to me. Since that day it had been 'our song'.

"Manda? Are you still there?" I heard Jake's voice break through my thoughts.

"Yeah I'm here." I said in a bit of a giddy tone.

"What was that all about?" He asked in reference to the song.

"That's our song. Our "friendship song". I know that that's corny and stupid, but it just always reminded us of our friendship. I can't believe that he actually remembered. " I said tears rapidly flowing down my cheeks.

"Cool. Are you gonna take him back?"

"I don't know. I mean what about Justin and Shelli? If I take Ashley back then I'm letting Shelli into my life and I don't want that. I mean I'm gonna be friends with him again and let him see Aurora and everything, but I don't think that I'm going to take him back. Our romantic relationship is dead and I don't think that it can be revived."

"Oh, well, uh. Then maybe I should warn you that Ashley's on his way over. He had some news for you."

"What news?"

"I can't tell you, just news. Listen, I gotta go, but I'll talk to you later. Bye Manda."

"Bye Jake." I hung up the phone, now thoroughly irritated. I really wanted to know what Ashley had to tell me.

It had been two hours since I had gotten off the phone with Jacob. Thinking that Ashley had blown me off, I decided to call him. I really wanted to know what he had to tell me.

"Hello?" Erik asked, answering the phone.

"Hey Erik, its Amanda."

"Oh hey hun, what's up?"

"Not much, can I talk to Ash?"

"Sure, just a second." A few minutes later I heard the phone being picked up.

"Isn't Ashley with you?" Jacob asked.

"No, he never go here."

"Huh, where the hell could he be? Maybe he got nervous and decided to drive around. Have you tried his cell?"

"Yeah, it's not on."

"Oh, well, I don't know what to tell you. I'll call you if he shows up ok?"

"All right, thanks." I hung up the phone and went upstairs to Aurora's room where there was a window seat.

She was sleeping in the crib, so I opened the blinds and watched the storm. It was beautiful and scary all at the same time.

It was really coming down outside. The rain was so thick that I couldn't see the ground from my window and I could only see maybe about ten feet in front of me, if that.

The phone rang again about thirty minutes later. I sighed to myself and then got up and went to my room to answer it. Maybe it was Ashley.

"Hello?" I asked into the receiver.

"Amanda?" Trevor asked, his voice making it obvious that he was crying.

"Oh my god, Trevor. What is it? What's wrong?" I asked, a sinking feeling in my stomach. Horrible possibilities running through my mind.

"It's Ashley. He was in a car accident about two hours ago."

*A/N- I don't live in LA therefore I have no clue whatsoever what the radio stations are. If someone knows and would like to inform me, then by all means do so. I just made it up for the story. *